Well, we ended up LOVING the freedom it afforded us — namely the ability to have a kitchen so I can travel carefree again (since I can’t eat out + have to make all of my own food because of my health issues).

As our family’s resident driver, Fred Baby didn’t love driving something as big as the Minnie Winnie though. So after LOTS of research, he ended up going down the #vanlife rabbit hole.

And now, here we are, a month later, the proud new owners of a 2017 Mercedes Sprinter van (shout out to Dustin Lambert at Mercedes Palm Springs who was awesome to work with and all good vibes BTW!).

We affectionately call the newest member of the family Sally Tomato (after the character in Breakfast at Tiffany’s).

We took her out on her first spin this past weekend and ended up in Oak Tree Village in Oak Glen, California, after Fred Baby looked at the map and found the coolest temperature within about an hour’s drive.

Smack dab between LA and Palm Springs, a drive we have done a million times, we had never been here.

And it’s unbearably adorable! It was also under 90 degrees, which felt amazing.

Filled with cute little shops, goats, deer, farms for berry picking and apple picking (apple picking opens Labor Day weekend), I look forward to going back when our family comes to visit next month!

But, back to Sally Tomato…

Sally is currently an empty shell. With these vans, you build them out however you like.

Fred Baby’s already drafted up a floor plan based on what’s most important to us (kitchen, bathroom, bed — although we don’t plan to sleep in Sally, it’s just nice to have the option and to be able to kick back while we’re traveling).

We look forward to sharing the process — and our adventures!

Now, we need to find someone to help us build Sally!

Apparently these things take several months, but we’re hoping for sooner, because we can’t wait to hit the road. Until then, we’ve made a makeshift situation with these poufs, a rug and a cooler. 🙂

If this is all new to you, as it was to me, check out 40 Hours of Freedom on Instagram for inspiration. We hope to build out something similarly light and airy.

And can’t wait to hit the road for many adventures together!

Do you have any experience with #vanlife? Any tips, wisdom you’d like to share?

Would you ever do something similar? Or do you think we’ve lost it? 😉

p.s. If you know of anyone who builds out vans, please share. We’re anxious to get this party started!